MATCH REPORT

LSHC Ladies First v Watton 1sts

Played Away on 23rd February 2013

Next Match

23rd Feb 2013 Mens' 2nd - Home vs Spalding 2nds

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Tania White profile

Position:: Outfield
Appearances:: 22
Goals:: 0

Sutton travelled to Watton on Saturday knowing that defeat would almost certainly mean an end to their Div 1 status. Without the influential Sally Cade due to injury, captain Gemma Parr was forced to make changes and Sutton did not start well. Watton played the ball around with precision and skill which belied their position in the league behind Sutton. However their problem seemed to be a lack of real penetration and although they won a number of short corners, they never really tested the Sutton defence, although there were a number of strange umpiring decisions that lead to keeper Wallis inviting one of the umpires to put the pads on! Just before half time - completely against the run of play - the ball broke to Leanne Woodhead, who played an excellent first time ball to Robyn Gribble. Gribble then expertly rounded the keeper to slot home and make the score 1-0 at half time.

Sutton knew that they were lucky to be 1-0 up at the break and vowed to play much better in the second half having made some changes to try and put everybody back into their normal positions. However Sutton were unable to hold on to their lead for long allowing Watton to equalise very early on. Things got worse soon after with captain Gemma Parr going off with an injury. Leanne Woodhead found herself moving back from centre forward to sweeper and although it was nothing to do with how she played the defence fell apart and allowed Watton to go 2-1 up from a short corner.

At this point Sutton looked doomed and it really looked as if Watton would add to their score, however they continued to battle and won a short corner of their own which Woodhead slotted home with real precision. Captain Parr had then had enough time to shake off her injury and returned to restore leadership and normality to the Sutton Defence. Sutton probably would have settled for a draw at this point but they began to get a foothold in the game and soon found themselves in the lead with Lou Southgate slotting in after good work by Gribble and Woodhead.

With time running out the Sutton defence held firm and the last five minutes saw Sutton finally play with their brains keeping possession and not allowing Watton to cross the half-way line. Although Sutton did not play well, the stats show that although Sutton had far less chances than Watton, they were clinical and this was the difference between the two teams. Man of the match was Tania White who was able to keep her head in a defence that was unusually all over the place!